Continuous butter-working machine



April 7, 1931. QD ERW' ETAL 1,799,504

CON'II NUOUS BUTTER WORKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet lAprifl 7, 1%1. c. DOERING ET AL I CONTINUOUS BUTTER WORKING MACHINE 4'Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Dec'. 9, 192'! April 7, 1931. C.VDOERING :T AL 13 5CONTINUOUS BUTTER WORKING MACHINE April 7,

DOERING ET AL CONTINUOUS. BUTTER WORKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 4Sheets-Sheet 4 i 2 readily Patented Apr. 7, 1931 entrants rename ANDHENRY a.

DOERING, F CEIOAGQ, ILLINOIS CONTINUOUS BUTTER-WORKING MACHINEApplication filed December a, rear. Serial no. stares.

terine offiner texture provided; while at the in same time permitting amore sanitary ma:

nipulaltion'or operation.

The invention involves means whereby the temperature and degree offineness of the butter feeding and working elements may be controlledand regulated in keeping with the condition of the product passingthrough the machine. V Y The invention also involves automaticallycontrolled means for withdrawin excess moisture; as well as means for inucing a positive feed, in predetermined or regulable quantities, of theingredients or salt.

p The objects recited, as well as others, and

v the advantages of. our invention will. be

comprehended from the detailed description'of the drawings, wherein vFigure 1 isa side elevation of our improved machine, with-a portion ofthe supporting standard and of the receiving hopper broken away;

Flgure 2 is a longitudinal sectional; view with portions of the hopper,the salt holding receptacle and driving mechanism broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the compression chamber orconveyor-portion of the machine.

Figure 4- is a "detail elevation of the compression means and agitatorsor workers,

with parts broken away, at the delivery end hamber shown in Fig- .of thecompresslon ure 3. I Figure 5 is a detail perspective view oflone of theworker elements arranged at the de-. livery end as shownvin' FiguresS-and 4. e I

jacketed as shown of the chambers 22 Figure 6 is a vertical sectionalview taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of thearrows.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on'the line 7- 7 of Figure 2 lookingin the direction of the arrows.

. Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the lower part of theingredient introducing mechanism.

Figure 9 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 9- -9 of Figure tionof the arrows.

Figure 10 is a detail view,

8Jlooking in the direcin perspective, of the regulable outlet of theingredient or salt receptacle.

In the particular exemplification, 20 represents a suitable hopper orreceptacle for receving salt, or other suitable ingredients, intended tobe fed or introduced into the butter or butterine. The hopper or feeder20 is preferably somewhat cone-shaped and arranged at the inclinationshown, with its delivery end terminatingin a tube 21v extending into thebutter or butter-crystal receivv ing trough 22: The trough 22 isprovided at one end with a feed hopper 23 through which the fator buttercrystals are'introduced, A portion ofthe trough is preferably water- Vat 24. The troug is of double type, namely formed so as to p ovide twoparallel elongated channels or chambers, I each of which is providedwith a water heated worm-screw or conveyor see Figures 2,

3 and 6. The combined crystal receiving end tion 26 through hich theworm screws 25- extend; the partition 26 having suitable openings 27about the screws to permit passage of the'ingredients or salt dischargedfrom the tube or nozzle 21 of the ingre receptacle 20. The function'ofthe partition 26 isto prevent the rearward movement. of; the buttercrystals toward and crowdi up into the delivery spout 21 of. the ingreient introducing vessel 20; the

is provided with a partiient holding partition alsocauses v intochambers 22 is controlled by a suitable valve which is actuated byoperation of the handle 28. The valve mechanism controlled by the handle28 permits the desired percentage or quantity of ingredient to beintroduced. his mechanism comprises a shaft 29 which [is rotatablymounted in and extends from the top down into the discharge tube 21.This shaft 29 has an agitator which consists of a skeleton frame 30,portions whereof extend into close proximity to and parallel with thewall of the receptacle 20; said frame being connected to the hubportions 30' by means of the radial ribs or spokes 30". The lower hub 30is provided with inclining blades 30 which ma be arran ed in pairs indifferent horizontal planes i desired, with at least one pair arran edin close relation with a plate 31 which lsstationarily secured to theopper or rece tacle 20. This plate 31 is provided with oles-32. Mountedimmediately beneath plate 31 is a-second plate 33 havin perforations 34;plate 33 is secured to an forms the top of the discharge tube 21 towhich the handle 28 is secured, as clearly shown in Figure 10. Byoscillating handle 28, tube 21' with plate 33 is rotated so as to havethe openings 34 thereof either partially place by the compositeflangedcollar 31- or entirely brought into register with the o nings 32 in theup r stationary plate 31.

a plate 33 extends s ightly beyond the perimeter of the tube 21 and isrotatably held in which is secured to the lower "end of the receptacle20. The handle 28 is pivoted at 28 to the arm 21 stationarily secured tothe tube 21 and the handle is provided with-a toothed plate 28 (seeFigure 9). The handle 28 is eld upward in normal gos'itionby a springplate 35. When the hair le 28is held in normal position, its toothedplate 28" is-held in niesh with the teethof sector plate 36 which 2 isstationarily secured to the receptacle 20 b the composite collarif Withthe toothed pi ate 28 in mesh with'the teeth of the plate 36, the handle28 and therefore also plate 33 are held against accidental 'Zmovement orrotation. z s The lower shaft section 29 in the tube 21 is preferablyshown removably secured to shaft 29; and this section 29 is providedwith a worm-screw or conveyor 37 for the purpose of causing a positivefeeding of the ingredients from the receptacle or hopper 20. Worm 37extends into close proximity to worms 25 and therefore cause theingredientsior saltto be positively fed down to the conveyors 25 wherebyit is forced into positive contact with the butter crystals.

-As themass passes along the chambers 22 by the action of the conveyorsthrough a perforated plate 38'at the delivery ends of chambers 22. Plate38 is provided with comparatively large sized holes. The butter orbutter ,crystalswith the introduced ingredients are forced into a smallspace or wall or spacers 45 so as to provide a chamber between theplates 43 and 44 to receive workers 40 similar to that shown in Figure5. In the particular exemplification of the machine as illustrated in"the drawings, the delivery ends of the chambers 22 are'shown providedwith a plurality of perforated plates, as for example five in number; itbeing understood that any suitable number may be employed 1 in keepingwith the material to be operated on and the amount .of moisture to beretained in thefinished product. With our improved machine the amount ofmoisture inthe fin- .ished product can be regulated by either removingor adding additional plates depending upon the quality of goods operatedon.

The plates are all spaced apart as shown -in Figures 2 and 3 and eachplate perforated 38 are larger than the perforations of plate 43and'theperforations of plate 43.1arger than plate 44, while the perforations ofplate 44 are larger than the perforations of plate 46 and theperforations of plate 46 it is forced chamber 39 in which are locatedrevolving workers 40 which consist of a hub portion 41 a withperforations of-a size differing from the Y arger than the perforationsof plate 47 The respective plates'are all spaced apart as pre- "viouslydescribed to permit workers 40 to be placed therebetween; it beingunderstood that the spindles 42 of the conveyors 25 extend throughsuitable openings in each ofthe plates.

: As the crystals or vermicular mass comes throlighthe plates,theworkers mix the crys P tals and force the water out of the crystals orfat-globules and force them more or less into a solid or compact masswhile the expressed water is allowed to flow back into the chambers 22.r v

The outer wall of each chamber 22 is pro= vide'd'with anopening as shownat 48 in Figure 3 surrounded by a casing 49 which contains a slide 50foropening and closing opening 48. The opening and closing of the slides50, on opp'osite'sides of the machine, is automatically controlled. Eachslide or plate 50 is provided with an arm 51 pivotally connected to alink 52 (see Figure 1) "pivoted to the side of the machine. Each link52in turn has a rod 53 pivotally connected therewith, the opposite endswhereof are pivoted to a connecting bar 54 which in turn is pivoted at55 on the frame of the machine. The pivot point 55 at its bottom isprovided with an arm 56 which is controlled by an arm ,57 pivoted at 58.The lower end of the arm 57 is' provided with ai transversely disposedportion 57 having at opposite ends depend- 15 ing arms 57"and 57 (seeFigure 7). These depending arms 57 and 57 are alternately engaged by aneccentric 59 secured to a shaft 60 The shaft 60 is driven by meansof asprock et chain 61 which is driven by a sprocket on shaft 62 whichlatter in turn is driven by a chain 63 from power shaft 64 of a spurgear reducer 65 which is coupled at 66 to the motor shaft 67 of electricmotor 67.

Shaft 62 directly drives one of the worms or conveyors 25. Shaft 62 alsodrives a sprocket chain 68 which operates shaft 69 'ournaled in asuitable bracket 69; shaft 69 ein provided with a clutch 70 and with abeve gear 71 which meshes with bevel gear 72 on shaft 29 of theingredient or salt introducing mechanism. The clutch 70 is adapted toproduce operative relation between shaft 69 and sprocket 73, thusenabling tive relation with the shaft 62. Shaft 62 is also provided witha gear 74 which meshes with a similar gear on a short shaft arranged inoperative relation with the other conveyor 25 so that both conveyors 25will rotate in unison but in opposite directions namely toward eachother. a

The water flows backward through the chambers 22 to the openings 48; andwhen open position, the water is permitted to flow into the receptacles7 5; one being arranged on each side of the machine. As the waterflowing back may carry with it a small amount of butter crystals or fatglobules, we provide the receptacles 75 in order to'prevent loss ofthese crystals. These receptacles 75 are of any suitable} configurationand size and are provided with a false bottom 76 provided withperforations 77 as shown in Figures 3 and 6; the perforations 77 beingcomparatively small so as to prevent passage of the-butter crystals,tlierethrough, as the tendency of the butter crystals or fat globulesis to adhere to each other in an agglomerate mass which willprevent'their passage through the perforations 77. The'outer bottoms ofthe receptacles. 7 5 are each provided with an outlet tube 7 8 directedtoward a suitable receptacle (not shown) for drain shaft 69 to be placedinto and out of opera-' the slide plates 50 arealternately moved intoing the water from the bottom space 79 in the receptacle 75. 1. With theplate or arm 57 bifurcated as previously described (see Figure 7); it isap-.

"parent that when eccentric 59 engages bifurcation 57"; arm 57 will beoscillated about pivot point 58 irione direction and when eccentric 59engages bifurcation 57 the arm 57 will be oscillated in the oppositedirection, thus eausin arm 54 to oscillate about pivotal point 55 an asa result alternatelymove the plates 50 into open and closed positions;that is to s'ay plate 50 on one side of the machine a will be moved toopen position while the plate 50 on the opposite side will be moved toclosed position.

The hopper 23 is provided with a butter feeder or presser elementshown/in the form of a frame 80, see Figure 1, secured to a shaft 81,whose one end is provided with a crankai'm 82 which" is connected to acrank-pin or disc 83 by means of link or rod 84; disc 83 be ing securedto shaft 60. Rod 84 is provided at bottom with a slot to receive the pinof disc 83, thus'cansing shaft 81 to rock and thereby oscillate feederframe 80, which is shown preferably provided with perforations (seeFigure 1) to reduce resistance.

The conveyors 25 are preferably provided ,with ducts or channels topermit circulation of hot water through ,the'conveyors 25; the waterbein introduced by pipe 85. into a 'collar86 fit ed aboutthe spindles ofthecon veyors. The collar 86 is provided, with an annular groove 87 toreceive the heated water. and this groove in turn communicates withports in the conveyor-spindles, allowing thewater. to flow lengthwisethrough the tube 88 (which is smaller than'the cham- "bers in the'worm-screws) and to return through the chamber in the conveyor and bedischarged into annular grove 90 in collar 86, from whence it may betaken by a suitable conduif (not shown), connected to an outlet port inthe collar.

In order that the water temperature may be regulated and determined, weprovide an automatic or thermostatically controlled.

watermixer at 91, provided with cold and hot inlet pipes at-92 and 93,respectively. The

water mixer 91 isprovided with a tempered water outlet 94which leads tothe water jacket' f 24 at the worker end of the machine; and with atempered water line 95 which con- Irects with the pipe 85 of eachconveyor 25.

\ Inorder to compensate for any wear and to abuts against the end of itsrespective screwq conveyor, while the other end of the pin*97 is beveledas shownat 98, and is engaged by setplate as.

screw or bolt 99. It is apparent that when set-screw 99 is screweddownwardly, it will force pin 97 forward and hence cause the respectivescrew-conveyor25 to move likewise into closer relation with the firstperforated As the openings 48 may be somewhat closed by the mass passingthrough the chambers 22 and thus prevent proper withdrawal or outflow ofthe excess moisture, we show the slide plates 50 each provided Withaninwardly disposed wing or extension 100; the inner end whereof is dishedor made arcuateto somewhat conform to the circumference of theworm-screws to permit such wings to be extended into close proximity tothe worms. These wings 100 are secured to the plates 50 at a slightdistance removed from one of the vertical edges of said plates to permitcomplete closing position of the plates to be attained. It is apparentthat when the plates 50 move to open position, the wings 100 will causethe butter mass to be moved awa from the openings 48 and allow free flowo the excess moisture into the receptacles 75.

We have shown what is believed to be the best embodiment of ourinvention which We have described in terms employed merely asterms ofdescription and not as terms of 11mitat-ion, as structural modificationsma made without departing from the spir1t of our invention.

What we claim is 1. In a continuous butter working machine,thecombination of a closed trough provided with a pair of worm screwsrotatably mounted therein, one end of the trough being provided with abutter introducing hopper and with an in redient introducing hopper ar-"ran ed to dlscharge into the trough. rearward of t e butter introducingvhopper, a partition in the trough intermediate of the butterintroducing hopper and the discharge end of the in edientintroducing-hopper, said partition ing disposed about the worm screws, acontinuously rotating stirrer mounted in said last mentioned hopper, andregulable means at thedischarge end of said last mentioned hopper forcontrolling the quantity of ingredients discharged there rom.

' 2. In a continuous butter working machine,

the combination of a closed trough havin a b tter introducin openingatone end, wlth an ingredient hol 1n receptacle having a dis char tubeadapte to dischar e into said 0 nmg in the trou h, a skeleton, ramerotata ly mounted in sai receptacle, a partition in the troughintermediate of the butter introducin opening and the dischargeof therece tac e, andmeans at the upper end of said tu for controlling theoutlet opening there- .throu h. 1 v

3. 11 a continuous butter workin machine, an ingredient containerprovide with a discharge spout, a skeleton stlrrer rotatably' -walls arealternate mounted in said container, a pair of perfw rated plates at thejuncture of the container adapted to engage the teeth of said sectorplate for locking said last mentioned means in its adjusted positions. I

4. In a contlnuous butter working ma chine, the combination of a closedtrough lprovided with rotatable worm screws and aving an introducingopening at one end,"

an ingredient holding receptacle arranged to discharge into saidopening, stirring means rotatablein the receptacle, means whereby saidstirrer means maybe placed into operative relation with the drivingmechanism for the worm-screws, a pair of perforated plates at thedischarge end of the receptacle one of said plates being rotatable, atoothe sector plate immovably secured to said receptacle, means forrotating the rotatable plate, and spring controlled means adapted toenga e with t e teeth of said s e'ctor plate for Ice ing sai platerotating meansin its adjusted positions.

5. In a continuous butter working machine, a closed trou h having anintroducing opening at one on worm-screws disposed lengthwise of thetrough, the walls of the trough at an intermediate point havingwater-outlets, slide plates for closing said outlets, reciprocatin meansfor controlling said slideplate's, an means operable with theslideplates for moving the butter mass away from the outlets when saidslide-plates move to open osition.

6. n a continuous butter working machine,

the combination of aclosed elongated chamber having a butter feedingopening at one as Q end with a worm screw disposed len hwise in thechamber, with means for rotating 'the worm screw, 'water outlets in theopposite side walls of the chamber, a slide plate for each of saidoutlets, reciprocating means for controlling the slide plates, androcker means I actuated by said worm screw rotating means for actuatingsaid reciprocating means whereby the mdelates on opposite side l y movedto open and closed position. v 7 In a continuous butter working machineof the character described, the combination ofda (pair of longitudinalchannels each pro-. w e

worm screws; the outer side walls of said channels being each providedwith a moiswith a worm screw'rotatable therein. a butter introducinghopper at one end 0, said channels, driving mechanism for saiding formedto move the butter mass traveling along the channel away from theopening I p when the plate moves to open osition; and means intermediateof each p ate and said driving mechanism whereby the plate of one Iopenin is moved to open position while the plate 0 the other opening 1smoved to closed position. 7

CHARLES DOERING.

' HENRY H. DOERING.

